Chris
Hill started DJ-ing in the
late 60 s, having been around the Soho R&B scene with his heroes Georgie
Fame, Geno Washington and Chris Farlowe. It was in Essex however that
Chris established himself as the supremo Soul Jock. Firstly in a small
club in Orsett and then at the Goldmine, Canvey Island.

Throughout
the 70's the club as a catalyst for the growing underground soul scene,
and music fans from all over the country flocked to the legendary Saturday
nights, dancing to the latest American imports. Many of those Goldminers
went on to become stars in their own right: Sadé, Spandau Ballet rubbing
shoulders with Light of the World. The Clash, Depéche Mode, Culture Club
and Soul II Soul, whilst many visiting American soul and jazz artist would
make a point of checking out the hottest soul spot in Europe.

At
the height of its fame, Chris, who also by then had hit the British Top
Ten Charts himself with two comedy records of his own, decided to move
closer to London and began his now legendary residency at Ilford s Lacy
Lady. On its original site in Seven Kings, fashion, style and music clashed
in a spectacular shock wave that filled the tabloids and fashion magazines,
and later had echoes in the punk and new romantic scenes, as well as laying
the foundation for today s current dance scene.

It
seems everybody that went to The Lacy Lady in 1977 went on to make records,
form bands, produce films or make a name for themselves in the world of
TV, media or fashion. At The Lacy they were fed a diet of the best music
black America had to offer; hard driving jazz funk, fusion and the hottest
soul. It was here too, the jazz scene was formed, with dance floors packed
for the most uncompromising bebop as well as the latest soul and disco
from New York and Philadelphia.

It
was during this period that along with DJ s Chris Brown, Tom Holland and
later with Robbie Vincent, Greg Edwards and Sean French that Hilly kicked
off the first soul Alldayers at the Reading Top Rank Suite, and then later
the massive Purley and Alexandra Palace affairs. The FUNK MAFIA had been
born, and in March 1979, it launched its most ambitious project, the Caister
Soul Weekender!

The
original site at Caister, a few miles from Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast,
played host to the largest gathering of soul and jazz fans there had ever
been, for a whole weekend of music, mayhem and madness. The British Soul
Scene would never be the same again!

In
1977 Chris helped form Ensign Records, whose first signing, The Boomtown
Rats, introduced the young Sir Bob Geldof to the world. However, the growing
UK soul scene also enabled Chris to sign a new generation of home grown
R&B talent. Light of the World, Eddy Grant, Incognito, Beggar & Co, David
Bendeth, Phil Fearon and Black Slate, all spearheaded the new Britfunk
movement whose music exploded through the growing soul family that had
grown up around the clubs, all-dayers, and now Weekenders. In 1980 Chris
moved back for his second stint at the Goldmine.

The
Caister Soul Weekender outgrew their original location and moved from
Yarmouth to Bognor, to Barry Island and finally, Prestatyn in North Wales,
but they also outgrew their original dream with a new generation of DJ
s who moved away from the soul roots that had been its origin.

Having
completed a second stint back on Canvey's Goldmine in the early 80's,
Chris decided to quit the club scene in 1985 and concentrate on his Ensign
duties with a young Irish singer called Sinead O Connor whom he had recently
discovered. In 1987 he as offered a weekend job in Hamburg on Radio 107
and created the enormously successful SoulBeat, which made him a huge
celebrity in Germany. When Sineads worldwide hit "Nothing Compares
to U" happened in 1989, Chris looked set for a quiet retirement from
club life, until fellow DJ Gary Dennis suggested he return to his old
Essex roots. Re-opening The Lacy Lady at The Kings, Ilford, they set about
rebuilding a scene that had all but collapsed under the attack of rave,
house and every other dance craze.

The
new Lacy Lady revived, almost single headedly, the greatness that had
once been, and after a sensational revival weekender at Camber Sands,
the original Caister Soul Weekender seemed the next logical step. So,
in 1994 the family was back! With most of the original team reformed,
along with those younger DJ s that had kept the faith, at the newly refurbished
Vauxhall Holiday Centre, Yarmouth, though a couple of miles from the original
site, the magical name Caister remained.

Meanwhile,
back in the heartland of the Essex soul scene& after five glorious years
back at The Kings, the venue finally closed its doors for good in February
1995 to make way for a fast-food restaurant, and The Lacy Lady moved to
The Island, Ilford for two more record breaking years, where a monthly
gig regularly pulled over 1500 soul fans from around the country. After
spending two years looking for a new location the Lacy Lady has finally
relocated to the Epping Forest Country Club in the newly constructed Casino
Club. The initial response to this move has been extremely well received
from old and new punters alike.

The
Caister Weekender remains Chris Hills first love. Now the New Millennium
has arrived the Caister Weekender, which is the world's longest running
soul event, has been firmly established in its rightful place as the premier
soul and jazz/funk music event of all time!

ALL TIME FAVOURITE TRACKS
Kind of Blue (All Tracks)
Miles Davis What's Going On (All Tracks)
Marvin Gaye Pet Sounds (All Tracks)
The Beach Boys I'll Be Around
Detroit Spinners Bad Luck
Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes Ooo Baby Baby
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles Your Good Thing (Is About To End)
Mable John Waiting in Vain
Bob Marley and the Wailers Only You
112 Sketches of Spain Miles Davis

TOP
MOVIES
The Godfather I & II
The Searchers
Citizen Kane
Henry V
Goodfellows
Casino
Remains of the Day
Jackie Brown
Salvador